Story by Tim Barlass – SMH

Many families are feeling the current financial pressures but such is the state of the economy that Victoria Cross recipient and Afghanistan veteran Daniel Keighran has decided to sell all his medals.

“A man selfless in the face of threat. Courageous in the face of terror. Generous in the face of suffering. And humble in the face of an honour bestowed.”

Words used by former governor-general Quentin Bryce to describe Corporal Daniel Keighran when she pinned his Victoria Cross for Australia on his army uniform in 2012.

But just 12 years later, Keighran, aged 41, has decided to sell his medals to pay for schooling and finances for his growing family. Sydney auction house Noble Numismatics will catalogue the group of 12 medals in its November auction with an estimate of $1.25 million. The sale is expected to attract international interest, although the VC will not be allowed to leave the country.

Keighran worked in Kalgoorlie in Western Australia in the mining industry in 2015 after his military service. He now lives in Brisbane with his partner.

“We are a family of five – me and my partner who has a 13-year-old daughter and a nine-year-old boy from a previous relationship, and my boy, aged seven, with my ex-wife. It’s a little blended family.

“It hasn’t been a decision [to sell] made lightly, my partner and I had a discussion. There’s a few family members whose health wasn’t amazing. My mum is 80 this year. I am fortunate in that I earn a pretty good wage, but things are pretty tough out there.

“I managed to buy her a place. The reason for getting rid of the medal is to look after my own family. It would afford the opportunity for schooling and for a place for us to live as a family as well. Times are tough, things are hard, especially for a family of five, as others out there could relate to as well.”

Of the estimate of $1.25 million, he added: “It is three-quarters of a house, it depends on where you buy in Brisbane, paid off straight away. I thought if I put it up for auction I can take my foot off the accelerator pedal a little bit and I can spend some quality time with the people I care about the most.”

And plans to marry his partner of two years? “Yeah, one day. Let’s not announce anything yet. Don’t give her any ideas! We will, without doubt, get married. We have spoken about it, but not yet.”

The VC has been on permanent display at the Australian War Memorial since 2012. Keighran wore it once two years ago at a Remembrance Service in Canberra because he forgot his medals and the War Memorial loaned it to him for the morning.

The citation for the VC says: “For the most conspicuous acts of gallantry and extreme devotion to duty in action in circumstances of great peril at Derapet, Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan, as part of the Mentoring Task Force One on Operation SLIPPER.”

Keighran deployed to Afghanistan in February 2010 with the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and on August 24, 2010, he was a member of a patrol that came under sustained machine-gun attack.

The auction catalogue states: “Corporal Keighran’s acts of the most conspicuous gallantry to repeatedly expose himself to accurate and intense enemy fire, thereby placing himself in grave danger, ultimately enabled the identification and suppression of enemy firing positions by both Australian and Afghan fire support elements. These deliberate acts of exceptional courage in circumstances of great peril were instrumental in permitting the withdrawal of the combined Australian and Afghan patrol with no further casualties.”

Keighran’s wasn’t the first Australian VC. It was preceded by Mark Donaldson (2008) and Ben Roberts-Smith (2010), but it was the first awarded to a non-special forces soldier.

There is speculation that philanthropist Lord Ashcroft, former Treasurer and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party in the UK, who has a collection of some 230 VCs could be among those bidding. Jim Noble of Noble Numismatics said: “It is a great opportunity for someone to own something very special – and it was won by someone who didn’t end up getting killed in the process.”

Of the decision in September by Defence Minister Richard Marles to strip distinguished service medals from commanding officers who held senior roles during the war in Afghanistan as recommended by the Brereton inquiry into alleged war crimes by Australian troops, Keighran said he was “a little surprised by the timing”.

“The timing was pretty poor in relation to the timing of the announcement by the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. I found it quite bizarre I must admit. I know a couple of individuals because I served with them. Those that did the wrong thing should rightly be pursued and prosecuted but, my goodness, the veteran community has been treated bloody terribly by some.”

Keighran added of receiving the VC: “It upended my life. It changed my life immeasurably, from the direction of I suppose my life was heading in working in the mines to then have the opportunity to go and do my masters in business through knowing people and now I am working at an executive level for a multinational [in the defence industry].

Would he change what he did on that day in 2010? “I’ve got a son now and you look at things differently from a risk perspective, but I would like to think I’m still the same person,” he said. “I saw my team in need and I acted appropriately. I thought I’d do everything I possibly could to save their lives and I think I’d probably do the same to this day.”

And of the future ownership of his VC? “The AWM is the right place for it. Knowing that that is where it has spent its entire life, obviously with it going to auction I would like it to go back there, but I have no say on that.”

During the Vietnam War – following the June 1969 engagement at Binh Ba village (in which the 33^rd NVA Regiment and the D440 VC Battalion engaged 5RAR/1 ATF armour and RF/PF/PSDF), in excess of 50 NVA/VC dead were buried in a pit/grave dug by a 17 Construction Squadron (RAE) D2 bulldozer near the village school – see AWM photograph P08610.009 below. On 8 June 1969, at the grave site, Major Rex Rowe (1 Fd Sqn RAE) spoke some “simple words of final committal” in the presence of his sappers of 1 Field Squadron and 17 Construction Squadron before a small D2 bulldozer covered the bodies.

Post-War – in 1986, the Vietnamese authorities disinterred bodies from the Binh Ba “school” burial pit, and the recovered remains were reburied in the Baria Cemetery.

Recently, the Vietnamese “Ban Chi Dao (515) Baria-Vung  Tau” (“515 Guidance Group Baria-Vung  Tau”) began a search for other June 1969-era grave sites/pits in Binh Ba in which NVA/VC bodies were buried following the June 1969 battle. They are seeking information from Australian Vietnam veterans on graves/burials in Binh Ba in June 1969 – additional to the “school site” burial – including any dug by Vietnamese RF, PF, PSDF, RD Cadre etc in Binh Ba.

If possible, Ernie Chamberlain (1969-70 Vietnam veteran – who is providing information to the 515 Guidance Group), would also like to identify and contact the 1 ATF officer – carrying an M-16, (?) in the left foreground of the attached AWM photograph P08610.009.

If you can assist with information, please contact Ernie Chamberlain at:  [email protected]  .

Frontline – Ray Payne OAM

I can’t believe that in our country, we’re seeing terrorist symbols, such as the Hezbollah flag, being waved openly on our streets, and nothing is being done to stop this criminal behaviour. It’s outrageous. We have strong laws in place to prevent this, laws that specifically make it illegal to support or display symbols associated with terrorist organizations. Under the Criminal Code Act 1995, it is an offense to be associated with or provide support to a listed terrorist organization, which Hezbollah undeniably is. Section 102.1 of the Act makes it clear that such acts are punishable by law.

But where is the action? Where is Anthony Albanese, our Prime Minister? His leadership is nowhere to be seen when it comes to enforcing these laws. His reluctance to take a firm stance and condemn the public display of terrorist symbols is dangerous for all Australians. Is he too afraid to act because of political considerations? Is he more worried about losing votes from the growing Muslim political movement than protecting our national security?

Albanese’s failure to send a clear and strong message to the Australian people is unacceptable. He should be out there, front and centre, making it known that we will not tolerate any support for terrorism in our country. We need a leader who isn’t afraid to uphold the law and protect our communities from the influence of extremist ideologies.

Albanese is failing us all. It’s time for real leadership, and Australia deserves better.

Picture: The Virginia-class attack submarine Minnesota (SSN 783) is under construction at Huntington Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Newport News Shipbuilding/Released)

And on the 8th day, God created seniors. Most seniors never get enough exercise. In His wisdom, God decreed that seniors become forgetful so they would have to search for their eyeglasses, keys, and other things, thus doing more walking. And God looked down and saw that it was good.

Then God saw there was another need. In His wisdom He made seniors lose coordination so they would drop things, requiring them to bend, reach, and stretch more. And God looked down and saw that it was good.

Then God considered the function of bladders and decided seniors would have additional calls of nature, requiring more trips to the bathroom, thus providing more exercise. God looked down and saw that it was good.

So, if you find, as you age, you are getting up and down a lot more times, remember it’s God’s will. It is all in your best interest even though you mutter under your breath.

Nine Important Facts to Remember as We Grow Older:

#9 Death is the number 1 killer in the world.

#8 Life is sexually transmitted.

#7 Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

#6 Men have two motivations: hunger and sex, and they can’t tell them apart. If you see a gleam in his eyes, make him a sandwich.

#5 Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day. Teach a person to use the Internet and they won’t bother you for weeks, or months, maybe they won’t bother you for years.

#4 Health nuts will feel stupid someday, lying in the hospital, dying of nothing.

#3 All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.

#2 In the ’60s, people took LSD to make the world weird. Now the world is weird, and people take Prozac to make it normal.

#1 Life is like a jar of jalapeno peppers. What you do today may be a burning issue tomorrow.

Please share this wisdom with others; I would do it now, but I need to go to the bathroom.

*************************************************************************

My comment – now you understand please show greater respect for your elders

Bob Buick

Mountain Creek Qld 4557

The Guest speaker at the June 2024 meeting of the Naval Historical Society of Australia – Victoria Chapter was Mr Craig Monahan, an accomplished Screen Writer, Director and Producer. Craig’s enduring interest and admiration for those involved in the story of HMAS Armidale now includes an ambition to produce a high-quality feature length documentary covering the story of the Armidale in 1942 and the many facets of this extraordinary tale that long remained hidden. His presentation deals with his quest for this story – an important part of the RAN’s wartime history – to be told more effectively to a wider Australian and international audience through the film medium.

Slashgear – By Chris Littlechild

Those who have only flown in the likes of Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s may never have even seen them in action, propellers are still an important part of aviation and have powered (and continue to power) some truly formidable aircraft. The C-130 military transport is just one example.

The C-130 Hercules, as its name suggests, is a hefty, powerful aircraft, had its prototype take its first flight in 1954 and provided the U.S. Armed Forces some crucial versatility. Not only can it pack a significant 44,000 lb payload in its largest variant, but it was also specialized for airlifting purposes, giving it the kind of utility to serve its purpose that aircraft with 132-foot wingspans can’t typically muster. It’s not as large as the vast C-5M Super Galaxy, but it’s an Air Force icon nonetheless. It’s powered by four turboprop engines, a unique system that means it utilizes propellers but is still powered by a jet engine.

The most notable thing about Lockheed Martin’s Hercules, looking at its exterior (aside from its imposing dimensions), is its propellers. These have been a prominent feature since the very first guise of the aircraft, which boasted Curtis-Wright crafted propellers. This is quite an unusual system in an aircraft of its type, but the long-serving Hercules derives some important benefits from it. Let’s take a closer look at the engines that power the C-130, how they work, and exactly what the turboprop setup has to offer a machine of this type.

A turboprop engine will fly more efficiently than an equivalent turbojet engine during slower flights at a lower altitude. A turboprop engine system features propellers, which generate thrust by changing the air flow through their action, which propels the aircraft forward. Conventional jet engines instead produce that thrust through the use of a turbine and compressed air. The compressed air is combined with fuel and introduced to a flame, blasting the aircraft forward as the gas is expelled out of the turbine. The laws of aerodynamics themselves reduce the top speed propeller-driven aircraft can achieve, and their limited relative thrust means that they tend to cruise at lower altitude.

Fuel efficiency, though, is a matter of designing an aircraft to best suit its purpose, to spend as much of its time in the air as possible in its most efficient operating conditions. This, then, is essentially why the Hercules was fitted with turboprops: It isn’t a slender and stealthy fighter jet that can scream around at Mach 4 or so for short, fuel-costly bursts, but a workhorse designed for the transport and airdropping of heavy cargo loads across longer distances. Turboprops also have the advantage of lower relative weights and the capacity to use shorter runways, huge boons in aircraft of this size. Fuel costs are a huge concern for aircraft. This is ultimately why the makers of the C-130 Hercules are proponents of the propeller, even with the AC-130 gunship variant.

In September 2022, Air Mobility Command was forced to ground a sizable fleet of some C-130H aircraft – an Allison T56-A-15-equipped variant introduced in June of 1974 – when the barrels of its propellers were deemed potentially defective. Nonetheless, overall, the turboprop engines were deemed to be the practical choice for this aircraft family, primarily for reasons of weight and power.

The Hercules was always going to be quite the heavyweight. The C-130J’s hefty 164,000 lb max take-off weight, in combination with its formidable dimensions in any variation, meant that matters of fuel efficiency and performance were paramount. The aforementioned Allison T56 engine offered the primary advantages of being lighter and having a more efficient power output on top of a greater range.

The result of this is a reduction in fuel use and a sign of the virtues that the C-130 would continue to display:  In 2014, the C-130H first flew with a quartet of Series 3.5 Rolls-Royce T56 engines. This powertrain, Rolls-Royce boasted, could keep its turbines much cooler and was around 13% more efficient with its fuel use. While fighter jets might use conventional jet engines as they favour speed, turboprop engines aren’t as fast (offering around 300 knots less maximum speed relatively) but perform better at lower speeds more suited for carrying heavy loads. The C-130J, the fastest variant, topping out at 417 mph, is a perfect example.

ED: We do have a number of former members of 1ALSC on this network if you are one, please contact Ross as it is important that history is recorded.

I am writing after having made contact with Bill Williams and Bob Cockerill, and they referred me to yourself.

I am the author of two books about RAASC Vietnam.

“Peas, Beans and Bullets”, and

“Sustaining the Fight”, and

I am keen to produce a book on the work of the ALSC.

Whilst I have some material from the OC RAEME Wksp, and Mil Police, the only other sources are the unit War Diaries (which are not very personal) and RAAOC-“To the Warrior His Arms”.

I would be grateful if you would let your members know that I am seeking to make contact. You may also pass on my details to them so they can contact me.

Many Thanks,

Russ Morison

Canberra ACT

0408947935

[email protected]

The Iranian Revolution of 1979 dramatically altered the country’s political landscape. Before this seismic event, Iran was a monarchy, ruled by the Pahlavi dynasty. The last Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was overthrown, leading to the establishment of the Islamic Republic. This revolution paved the way for Ayatollah Khomeini, who became the nation’s first Supreme Leader. Since then, Iran has remained under a theocratic regime.

The Former Crown Prince of Iran

Reza Pahlavi, son of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, holds the title of the former Crown Prince of Iran. In exile since the revolution, he has not faded from the political scene. Pahlavi is actively involved in Iran’s democracy movement and is the founder of the self-proclaimed National Council of Iran, a group opposing the current regime. His calls for change have gained traction among Iranians who seek reform, and his influence in exiled political circles continues to grow.

The Recent Missile Attack on Israel and Pahlavi’s Response

Why mention all this now? On the heels of an unprecedented ballistic missile attack launched by Iran on Israel, Pahlavi made headlines once again. Yesterday, after the attack, Reza Pahlavi took to X (formerly Twitter), addressing Iranians directly in a post that resonated with many.

In his message, he condemned the regime for its long-standing support of terrorism and warmongering, culminating in the rocket attack on Israel. He characterized the attack not only as an act of aggression against Israel but also against the Iranian people themselves.

Pahlavi was clear in his criticism of the Islamic regime, asserting that its very nature stands against the interests of peace, stability, and prosperity for Iran. He argued that reform within the existing regime is impossible, and the only path forward for a brighter future in Iran lies in national unity and the eventual overthrow of the government.

A Call for Change

Pahlavi’s message didn’t stop with condemnation. He called on the Iranian military to resist the ambitions of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His rallying cry for unity and national strength was met with widespread support online.

His supporters, many of whom view him as the rightful leader of Iran, filled the comments section with encouragement. Whether or not this represents a majority opinion in Iran is debatable. What is clear, though, is that Pahlavi still enjoys considerable popularity among Iranians who are fed up with the current regime’s policies, both domestically and internationally.

What’s Next for Iran?

Could this be the start of another political revolution in Iran? Or will it simply become a momentary spark in a nation with a long and complex history? Only time will tell, but Reza Pahlavi’s increasing visibility, particularly in moments of crisis, suggests that the future of Iran may once again see dramatic change. His call for a free, democratic, and prosperous Iran strikes a chord with many who yearn for a departure from the regime’s authoritarian rule.

In the coming days, as Iran and the rest of the world react to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, it will be interesting to see if Pahlavi’s message of unity and resistance gains more traction within Iran. Could we be witnessing the beginning of another chapter in the long struggle for Iran’s political identity? Or will this, like many moments before it, be a fleeting event? Only history will have the answer.